TX - Deputies chase truck carrying 13 undocumented immigrants

February 11, 2013
by Gary Cooper / KENS 5

SEGUIN, Texas -- Deputies in Guadalupe County chased a cream colored Ford F-150 carrying more than a dozen undocumented immigrants through Seguin until the driver of the truck crashed in a field off of the interstate just after 9:30a.m. Saturday.

According to Sheriff Arnold Zwicke, the chase started when a deputy tried to pull over the Ford on Interstate 10 just west of Seguin. The driver changed lanes erratically after he noticed the patrol car behind him.

The driver of the truck then exited the interstate at Highway 90 and headed east into Seguin. He never accelerated past 40 miles per hour.

Deputies say next, the driver of the truck turned north on State Highway 46 and headed back to the interstate.

At the time, the roads were slick because of rain.

The driver of the Ford turned east, trying to get back on the interstate. Thatís when the driver lost control, nearly hit an SUV going in the opposite direction, then sped into a field.

The chase continued until the driver smashed into a ditch and damaged the truck so badly it could no longer be driven.

At that point, several undocumented immigrants got out of the truck and ran away from the deputies. The rest were arrested right there.

In all, ten undocumented immigrants were in the cab of the truck and three were riding in the bed, according to the Sheriff.

The immigrants riding in the bed of the truck were taken to a hospital and later handed over to the Border Patrol.

They were all form Honduras, says the sheriff. The youngest was 14 years old; the oldest was 30.

"They stack them like card wood. It's sad because we know these people are getting ripped off and we know they need a job and they are probably not going to get to their destination," Zwicke told KENS 5.

Dash cam video shows pursuit with illegal immigrants

GUADALUPE Co., Texas -- It was a wild chase caught on camera. When it ended, deputies found 13 people, including three children, who were smuggled across the border.

When Guadalupe County deputies first noticed a white pickup truck off Interstate 10 just east of San Antonio on Saturday, it was swerving and abrupt lane changes that gave the driver away.

Inside the truck, according to investigators, was a group of immigrants smuggled in from across the border -- some of them were just children.

"We noticed one of the Sheriff's cars just driving across the field which was pretty new for us, we were wondering what was going on," said Bill Thompson.

Thompson owns the Dixie Grill that sits next to the field where the driver crashed.

"It's unfortunate they had to come to this community, but obviously, Texas is just above Mexico..they are going to come in at the border and head their way up," he said.

Investigators say there were 13 people from Honduras inside the truck -- which was stolen in Houston.

"It's here more than the average citizen knows," said Sheriff Arnold Zwicke.

Zwicke says a reverse 911 call went out to nearby residents and some of them called in tips -- helping deputies catch all 13 people.

This comes just a week after another pursuit in neighboring Wilson County. Deputies say a sport utility vehicle packed with undocumented immigrants crashed into a water tank. Three people died in the collision.

"Human trafficking is an issue that I wish we could get some more teeth in the law to put a stop to," said Zwicke.

Thompson adds, "It's good that law enforcement is doing their job and unfortunate it has to be in Seguin that they're here."

Deputies say it's a problem they are always looking out for because they don't expect it go away.